slightly

USAGE SUMMARY

'slightly' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to indicate a small degree of something or a small amount of something. For example: "The cake was slightly dry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The order book was down slightly at £3.6bn from the last update in June but well ahead of the £3.3bn reported this time last year.

The Guardian - Business

But he takes a slightly more pragmatic view on contraception, believing that it can be permissible to prevent the spread of disease.

The Guardian

After Shad mentioned the words "gay" and "marriage," we heard Peter's wife hiss, "Don't talk to those people!" Peter rolled his eyes slightly, stepped out onto the porch, and shut the door behind him.

The Economist

"At times it has been slightly depressing" he says, to hear the sorts of headline-seeking soundbites that emanate from ministers so often.

The Guardian

The eurozone's third biggest economy grew 0.3% quarter on quarter, slightly more than expected thanks to a pickup in domestic demand.

The Guardian - Business

"At a stroke, this would make the implied cuts for non-protected departments and welfare slightly more plausible (if still very severe), mark an 'end to austerity' by the middle of the parliament and soften (at the margins) the pressure on the Bank to keep monetary policy on the floor".

The Guardian

But it was the women who breathed life into this slightly stale debate.

The Guardian - Opinion

This year it rolled out projections on to the outside of Broadcasting House and three different sets of analysis — from Sophie Raworth outdoors, Emily Maitlis at the big screen and of course Jeremy Vine, this time performing among some slightly spooky breathing avatars of politicians and a literal House of Cards.

The Guardian

Also, as this excellent Atlantic piece points out, there's a slightly uneasy "white saviour" theme throughout, best exemplified by a genuinely ghastly scene where the family tell the slaves that they're letting them go, everybody starts hugging and, quick as a flash, one of the freed women starts singing Amazing Grace.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

This has fallen slightly since then, but their report suggests that with NHS England projections of flat cash for the NHS, and reasonable assumptions around forecast GDP growth, we could see our spend on healthcare falling back to around 6% of GDP by 2021, equivalent of 2003's spending levels.

The Guardian

It was only a few years later that I first met him and can make the claim to the second-hand kudos of having known him for rather longer and perhaps slightly better than most sports writers.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing items, use "slightly" to present facts objectively without implying a strong bias or opinion.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly" excessively, as it can dilute the impact of your writing. If something is significantly different or changed, consider using stronger adverbs like "considerably" or "significantly".

Linguistic Context

The adverb "slightly" functions to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating a small degree or extent. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it adds nuance by expressing a minimal change or difference, such as "The order book was down slightly" or "he's slightly endearing."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly" is a versatile adverb used to indicate a small degree or extent. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, it softens statements and adds precision without overstatement. Alternatives like "somewhat" and "a little" offer similar nuances, but "slightly" remains a precise choice for minimal differences. Remember to avoid overuse and consider stronger adverbs when appropriate, ensuring clarity and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat

Indicates a degree that is less than greatly or totally.

a little

Represents a small amount or degree.

to some extent

Implies that something is true or exists partly, but not entirely.

marginally

Suggests a minimal or barely noticeable degree.

by a small margin

Indicates a difference that is small but potentially significant.

just a bit

Informal way to indicate a small amount or degree.

in a small way

Implies an action or change that is limited in scope.

to a limited degree

Highlights the restriction or limitation of an action or state.

barely

Indicates that something is achieved only just or with great difficulty.

hardly

Similar to 'barely', implying something is almost not the case.

FAQs

How can I use "slightly" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly" to indicate a small degree or amount. For example, "The soup was "slightly salty"", or "The economy has improved "slightly" this year".

What are some alternatives to the word "slightly"?

Alternatives to "slightly" include "somewhat", "a little", or "marginally". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "slightly better" or "a little better"?

Both "slightly better" and "a little better" are grammatically correct and generally interchangeable. "Slightly better" may sound a bit more formal than "a little better".

What's the difference between "slightly" and "somewhat"?

"Slightly" indicates a smaller degree or extent than "somewhat". "Slightly" suggests a barely noticeable difference, while "somewhat" implies a more moderate degree.